BCCI fixes playoff dates

The Board of Control for Cricket in India published the IPL 2026 playoff schedule on May 6, fixing dates, venues and start times for the four knockout matches as the league stage moved toward its finish. The schedule sets Qualifier 1 for May 26 in Dharamsala, the Eliminator for May 27 in New Chandigarh, Qualifier 2 for May 29 in New Chandigarh and the final for May 31 in Ahmedabad, according to the league’s official announcement. The calendar gave franchises, venues, broadcasters and ticketing partners firm dates after weeks in which playoff travel and host-city plans had remained unsettled. The final league match is scheduled for May 24, leaving a two-day gap before the knockout stage begins on May 26. (iplt20.com) ### Which matches are being played, and where? Qualifier 1 will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on May 26, with the top two teams in the table meeting for a direct place in the final. The Eliminator, between the teams finishing third and fourth, will follow on May 27 at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) Qualifier 2 is set for May 29 at the same New Chandigarh venue, with the winner of the Eliminator facing the loser of Qualifier 1. The final will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31. ### How compressed is the playoff week? The playoff phase runs from May 26 to May 31, meaning all four knockout matches will be completed in six days. (iplt20.com) The only off-days in that span are May 28, between the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, and May 30, between Qualifier 2 and the final. The venue pattern reduces one variable by keeping both the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh, but it still leaves a short turnaround from Dharamsala to the second host city for the team that loses Qualifier 1 on May 26 and must play again on May 29. (iplt20.com) The official schedule does not change the playoff format, but it converts tentative planning into confirmed movements for teams and event staff. ### When did the venues become final? BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said on May 2 that the board would announce playoff venues within two days, according to local media reports at the time. Four days later, the IPL released the full playoff schedule and confirmed Ahmedabad as the host of the final. (iplt20.com) Earlier reporting had pointed to uncertainty over whether Bengaluru would host the title match, with some outlets saying the board was still evaluating options. The May 6 advisory ended that uncertainty by assigning the final to Ahmedabad. ### Which teams had qualified when the schedule came into focus? (liveindia.tv) The Times of India reported on May 22 that Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad had already secured playoff places, with one berth still open. The same report said the top-two positions, which determine access to Qualifier 1, were still in play as the league stage neared completion. (liveindia.tv) That left the schedule fixed before the final playoff lineup was complete, a standard feature of the IPL’s closing week. The bracket positions will be filled after the league stage ends on May 24. ### What happens next for fans and teams? (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) District by Zomato was named the official ticketing partner for the playoff stage, and ticket-sale details were published on May 19 ahead of the knockout matches. The next confirmed on-field milestone is Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala on May 26, followed by the final in Ahmedabad on May 31. (msn.com) (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)